Clamp for nursing bottles



J. M. WOLFE ET AL -Fune 3, 1 1,496,507

CLAMP FOR NURSING BOTTLES Filed Feb. 24, 1923 Figll Ifgl I I l INVENTQRS c/LZOOZ? MT l blfie 6% SylUiaAMdbews B S S ATTORNEY JACOB MILO WOLFE, OF LATHROP, AND SYLVIA A. MATHEWS, OF RI'EON, CALIFORNIA.

QLAMP- FOR NURSING BOTTLES.

Applicatioufiled February 24, 1823. 'Serial No. 620,898.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JAooB M. Vonrn and SYLVIA A. MATHEws, citizens of the United States, residing at Lathrop and Ripon, respectively, county of San Joaquin, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Nursing Bottles; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the charactersv of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this application.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps, and particularly to a form especial- 1y intended to be used to clamp the rubber nipples onto the nursing bottles from which milk is fed to infants.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a clamp for the purpose so constructed as to surround the nipple and cooperate with and fit the beaded upper edge commonly provided on nursing bottles, so that when once in place, the clamp cannot shift up or down,.and the nipple is held firmly in place; may be instantly removed or replaced with a single movement. 7

The clamp will also tightly hold the nipple' onto the bottle and prevent leakage and undesired removal even after the nipfple has permanently stretched from continned usage, which is a common occurrence and which at present necessitates the use of a new nipple or the tying of the old.

nipple on with stringer the like, which is a crude expedient.

Another object is to form the clamp in such a manner that there are no sharp or protruding edges in evidence when the clamp is in place such as might cut the hand 01. the infant using the bottle. or catch in any clothing or other fabrics about the child.

A further object is to construct the clamp in such a manner that when closed, it prevents a deceptive appearance as to the manner in which it is opened, so that should the infant using the bottle be of an inquisitive age and try to open the clamp, his efforts will most likely be of no avail, while at the same time, a person understanding the clamp, will have no difficulty in opera-ting the same.

A further object of the invention is to At the same time the clamp produce a'simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects weaccomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement ol parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of re'l erence indicate corresponding parts in the several views. I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a nursing bottle and nipple thereon, showing our improved clamp installed in'connection therewith. V

Figs. 2 and 3 are top plan views of the clamp detached, in open and closed positions respectively.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section ofthe bottle, nipple and clamp.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, detached, of the clamp-operating member.

Referring now more particularly to the characters ofreference on the drawings, the;

numeral ldenotes the bottle having a bead 2 about its upper edge, about which the lower end of a rubber nipple 3 is adapted to snugly fit, the rubber about the heading offcourse assuming the same shape as said bead. These parts are standard construe tion. Our improved clamp comprises a circular spring band 4, split transversely, of a: length about thesame as the circumference of the nipple at the beading, and curved concavely, from the inner face, to fit the beading2. o One'end of the "band, is formed with. an outwardly curled eye 5 while the other end is formed with an outwardly curled hook 6, the axis of these parts being parallel to the axis of the band.

Pivoted at one end in the eye 5- is a link 7, wider than the band, the opposite end of which is similarly mounted in the large ends of triangular shaped pieces 8 overhanging and formed as part of a substantially flat plate 9, forming a combined catch and. handle member, the link being cut away between said sides. The members 8 are at right angles to the hand a and the member 9 is parallel thereto.

The sides 8 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to enable them to overlap the band, the plate 9 being outermost, and the end 9 of the latter, at the termination or melting of the sides therewith, is adapted to enter and engage the hook 6 on the band.

The opposite end of the member 9 is turned inwardly to form a lip 10, the edge of which is curved as at 11 to fit the cross sectional curvature of the band, so that when the clamp is in position, no sharp edges are in evidence which could scratch or tear any thing. Q

In operation, the band t, which is normally spread apart by reason of its spring construction to be of greater diameter than the head 2 with the nipple thereon, is placed thereabout,-the end 9 of the catch member being clear of the hook 6, as shownin Fig.

' 2. These parts are then engaged with each other and the wide end of the catch member pressed toward the adjacent portion of the band, until the members 8 overlap the band and the lip 10 is resting against the band. The clamp and link are of course so proportioned that the ends of'the band will be drawn together, causing the latter to pinchthe yieldable nipple onto the bottlebeading. In this position, it will be noted from Fig. 8 that the clamp will be automatically locked. since the" line of the link 7 is then inwardly of the hook 6. i

It will also be seen from said figure, that on account of said hook projecting outwardly from the adjacent members, to the uninitiated it would appear that the opening of the clamp may be accomplished by prying up on said hook, since the connection of the hook with the band is not seen owing to the envelopment of the adjacent part thereof by the clamp member. The clamp, however, can only be opened by prying the opposite end thereof away from the band.

' From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

Vhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the defined by the appended being adapted to engage the hook and to be then moved to draw the ends of the band together; said member then concealing that portion of the band adjacent the hook.

3. A clamp comprising a circular band split transversely, a hook formed on one end of the band, and 'a catch member flexibly connected to the other end of the band ant being adapted to engage the hook and to be then moved to draw the ends of the band to gether; said member then concealing that portion of the band adjacent the hook, while the hook projects outwardly from one end thereof. i i I 4. A clamp comprising a transversely split band having an outwardly facing hook formed on one end, a link pivoted on the other end of the band and a catch member, said member comprising a plate having a transverse edge at one end adapted to enter the hook, and side plates beginning at said end and increasing in width toward the opposite end and facing'toward the band when the clamp is in locked pisition, the link being pivoted in the sideplates at the end thereof opposite to'the hook engaging edge and the plates then overlapping and concealing the adjacent portion of theba-nd.

In testimony whereof we aflix' our signatures. i

JACOB MILO WOLFE. SYLVIA A. MATHEWS. 

